Creativity is at the core of every WOTSO thanks to a dedicated team of builders and crafts people who not only produce amazing work environments but often create art such as the dramatic lion’s head designed and made by Trev Gledden at WOTSO Jamisontown.
It’s an idea Trevor’s had since he was a kid fascinated by 3-D cardboard animals and was built from recycled timber. He loved the colour and geometric possibilities presented by the king of the jungle’s mane.
“It was a tossup between a wolf and a lion,” explains Trev. “If you look on nature shows, lion and wolf manes have different coloured hair, either of which would enable me to get colour variation.
“Based on the timber colour I had on site, which was dark brown, light brown, white, faded white and tans, I went with the lion. If I had greys, blacks, light browns then maybe I would have leaned towards the wolf.”
He says the base was all freehand drawn onto ply and then cut into three sections, each a different layer, with the appropriate coloured timber cut to shape and laid on top, creating what looks like a cross between a mask or African shield.
The outcome is striking, especially when backlit as a stairway feature, and Trev is quick to thank his workmates for their creative encouragement, a hallmark of the crews behind WOTSO’s fitouts.
“None of the work is 100% mine,” says Trev. “All the boys are behind it. We all swap ideas We all have thoughts.”
Trev has contributed to numerous WOTSO projects over the past five years through Leigh Vandersyde Carpentry including Cremorne, Botany, Newcastle, Neutral Bay, Blacktown, Zetland and Jamisontown.
He explains that for fitouts, the build and carpentry teams work from an architectural layout with creative direction from the WOTSO project manager, in this case Paula Dayeh.
There’s an emphasis on using recycled materials wherever and whenever possible.
“When we do the strip out, we end up with materials which we recycle in the space or in the next space. We hold onto the materials and wherever we can we reuse them,” says Trev.
“For example, at the start of Jamisontown we had 13 shipping containers filled with recycled materials. We start with an idea and follow on from there.
“We’ll get a rough indication of what they want – do they want shapes or a theme with the cladding.”
The crew then throws ideas around with each taking responsibility for a section of the fitout, which includes a mix of private offices, coworking space, meeting rooms, relaxation spaces and high-quality wet areas.
There’s an emphasis on using recycled materials wherever and whenever possible.
“When we do the strip out, we end up with materials which we recycle in the space or in the next space. We hold onto the materials and wherever we can we reuse them,” says Trev.
There is a definite WOTSO aesthetic, earthy, genuine, textural, lots of natural materials.
“My personal look is structured chaos – more symmetrical, more geometric,” says Trev. “The parquetry stuff, the herringbone stuff – that’s me.”
